Lake Shore
Hosp Authority

Mid April photo of hawk in tree scheduled for demolition
by Chain Saw Jack and the Gov's Board.
(courtesy)

COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Two days ago, the Observer
received a call that there were nesting hawks in a tree
scheduled to be felled under the orders of political
operative Jackson P. "Jack" Berry, the Manager of the
Lake Shore Hospital Authority and the real leader of
Gov. Scott's rubber-stamp Lake Shore Hospital Authority
Board. The Board had previously approved the clear
cutting of the only stand of trees in an area around
Lake City's downtown Lake DeSoto Circle Drive. It was
reported that the hawk was first seen on April 1 and
Manager Berry was aware of the hawk, a raptor, which is
a federally protected species.

The source, fearful of the wrath of the legendary
Berry, the former republican leader, would only speak
under the condition of anonymity.

It was reported that Mr. Berry came back a week
later, claimed that "he hadn't seen the bird" and said
that he "wanted to move forward" with the felling of the
trees.

At this time the hawk's nest was clearly visible in
the tree.

The hospital is on the left. The hawk's nest is in the
left hand stand of pines (the tall trees). The nest
could be seen from the ground. Manager Berry wants all
the trees cut, except 4 or 5.

Background

On
February 8, 2016, the Authority met for its monthly
meeting. Manager Berry, who prepares the Authority
agendas, left off that he was looking for approval to
clear cut the trees at the back of the hospital and
along Circle Drive. After a brief presentation by
Manager Berry, which included no facts and figures to
support the clear cutting, Board member Dr. Ron Foreman
wasted no time and led the charge to remove the trees.
"Get on the hill," he told Mr. Berry.

On March 14, 2016, ("Chain Saw Jack" Berry & Gov's LSHA Board Vote
to Cut Down Lake DeSoto Trees) after a
discussion and a clearly bollixed bid process, which did
not come close to the state purchasing procedures and
the Authority's own purchasing policy, the Authority
Board approved the bid to chain saw the trees. Authority
contract attorney, Fred Koberlein, who had charged the
Authority to prepare for the meeting, did not know that
an RFP was not written or advertised.

On March 15, 2016, Manager Berry visited Lake City's
Building & Zoning Department and incompletely filled out
an application for a permit to remove the trees. A
building official issued Mr. Berry the permit and
stamped Building & Zoning Director Bob Hathcox's name on
the application.

On or about March 17, after Barbara Lemley requested
a copy of the permit, Director Hathcox left a message on
her phone stating a permit to cut down the trees was not
issued.

On March 29, Ms. Lemley received a copy of the
permit.

On March 30, Ms. Lemley asked Mr. Berry why he didn't
completely fill out the permit. "I was told he didn't
have to," she said.

On March 31, your reporter spoke with Director
Hathcox about the permit.

The City tree ordinance states:

The administrator and the landscape supervisor,
utilizing such technical assistance as may be required,
shall review all applications for tree removal and
determine from among other
considerations what effect the removal will have upon
the drainage, topography, natural resources, ecology of
the area, public safety and welfare, aesthetic value,
and the reasonable use of the site for development and
shall consider these factors in granting or denying said
permit application. (emphasis added)

Mr. Hathcox is the City's administrator and the
landscape supervisor. Your reporter asked why,
considering the sensitive nature of the tree removal, he
didn't utilize any other technical assistance.

Mr. Hathcox answered, "In my opinion it was not
necessary to utilize any other technical assistance
other than myself."

Your reporter followed up, "The aesthetic part of it.
Is the City Jack Berry's handmaiden, or do they actually
go and look at the property and make a value judgment?"

Mr. Hathcox responded, "As far as I'm concerned the
trees that are there are water oaks and a few pine
trees. The value of them is not as significant as if we
were dealing with a bunch of live oaks and heritage type
trees."

Hawks in the Trees: Nesting Hawks 4 of the Last 5
Years

Two days ago, the Observer received a call that there
were nesting hawks in a tree scheduled to be felled
under the orders of Jack Berry, the Manager of the Lake
Shore Hospital.

It was reported that the hawk was first seen on April
1 and Manager Berry was aware of the hawk, a raptor,
which is a federally protected species.

The source, fearful of the wrath of the legendary
Berry, the former republican leader, would only speak
under the condition of anonymity. "You know how Jack
is," he said.

For more than 4 decades, Jack Berry's reputation has
been that "Nobody tells him what to do." (see
right column)

It was reported that Mr. Berry came back a week
later, claimed that "he hadn't seen the bird" and said
that he "wanted to move forward" with the felling of the
trees. "He wanted to go ahead and cut down the trees,"
the source said.

At this time the hawks nest was clearly visible in
the tree.

The source added, "Over the last five years I know of
four nests that have been in those trees, not the same
tree every year - but the same set of trees -- those big
pines."

BERRY'S DREAMS: the "Jack Berry Highway"

For years, Jack Berry has dreamed of building a road
from U.S. 90, through wetlands, to the back of the Lake
Shore Hospital. The road, less than one mile is
estimated to cost at least $2.5 mil. The road has been
dubbed by many as the "Jack Berry Highway." Mr. Berry
recently added moving the existing helipad a few hundred
feet.

There has not been a demonstrated need for this road.
Plans have not been approved and other than a grant by
Governor Scott, the funding source has not been
identified; the Authority has not asked for a
preliminary site assessment from the Water Management
District. Both Jack Berry and Representative Elizabeth
Porter have claimed responsibility for obtaining the
grant. There are rumors that DOT is getting involved.

On April 21, 2016, speaking under the condition of
anonymity, representatives of Lifeguard Ambulance were
asked about the need for a road to the back of the
hospital.

The Observer asked, "How many runs a day [to the
hospital] do you guys make?"

Answer: "At least 8-10 a day."

Your reporter followed up: "How many revolve around
the helicopter?"

Answer: "Less than 2%. We average about 700
transports from 911 and less than 2% are air."

The Observer: "Do you guys really need that road?"

Answer: "No. Not really. We very rarely use the Lake
Shore heli-pad."

The Observer: "You don't need the road to get to the
emergency room?"

Answer: "No. They repaved Leon [another local
road]. We're good with that."

One of the reasons Mr. Berry has used to justify
chain sawing the trees is the path of the Jack Berry
Highway.

The helipad is an added Jack Berry dream. There has
been no demonstrated need to move the helipad; no
written plans or proposals; and no requests from
anybody, other than Jack Berry to move it; needed FAA
approval is sketchy. Mr. Berry is using the heli-pad
relocation as another reason to chain saw the trees.

Lake City Digs In

On May 3, and again on May 4, your reporter asked
the City's Bob Hathcox to reconsider his permit to clear
cut the trees in light of the nesting hawks.

Mr. Hathcox stood by his decision. He said, "Until
somebody from the federal government tells me I can't
cut down the trees, the permit stands."

FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Stepped In

On
the morning of May 3 your reporter called FWC's Ginger
Morgan and reported "Nesting Hawks in the Trees,
Threatened." Your reporter was directed to the FWC
hotline.

FWC took the call seriously and began investigating.
A short while later, FWC returned the call requesting
more information.

At 4:19 pm, FWC Agent Fisher called and explained he
had "just come off the river and was parking his boat in
Fort White." He explained that regulations prohibit the
tree with the hawks from being cut down, but all the
other trees in the area could be felled. "Eagles require
a buffer, but hawks do not," he said.

Agent Fisher said he wanted to be sure there were
hawks in the tree and was headed to Lake City as soon as
he parked his boat.

Agent Fisher said, "I will ride up and take a look. I
will call this Jack Berry from the Hospital Authority
and let him know if there is an active hawk's nest in
one of those trees that he can't cut the tree down. But
that's not saying he can't cut the rest of the trees
down."

CHS, CFO Rhonda Sherrod, the Sierra Club, the
Audubon Society

Besides leasing the Lake Shore Hospital, it leases
the property with the trees that Jack Berry and the
Governor's Board has ordered to be clear cut. Mr. Berry
needs permission from CHS to cut the trees. A record of
that approval has never been made public.

Yesterday afternoon, May 4, the Observer spoke with
Rhonda Sherrod, the CEO of CMS's Shands Lake Shore
Hospital. Referring to the trees and the hawks, she
said, "As far as I know, the trees will not be cut down
until the birds leave."

The Observer followed up, "As you know, CHS has
control of the property through the lease. At this time,
does CHS have a position on the clear cutting of the
trees?"

Ms. Sherrod answered, "Not that I know of."

Later yesterday afternoon, your reporter was in
contact with Sierra Club member Laura Dailey, who
advised the Audubon Society of the Hawks-in-the-Trees.

LSHA 8 (clockwise from top):
Koby Adams - political operative and Liz Porter's Chief of
staff
Brandon Biel - latest Scott appointee and a young republican
on the move
Dr. Waseem Khan - a board member who
lives out of the county
Janet Creel - real estate broker
Ron Foreman - father of the County Atny
Tim Murphy - a nice guy, talented welder, clueless about
government
Board Chairwoman Lory Chancy - her main job appears to be
not to answer questions and to protect Columbia County's
legendary political operative, Jackson P. "Jack" Berry (in
the middle).